Drag racer survives frightening airborne crash at World Wide Technology Raceway
MADISON, Ill. – A Corvette goes airborne. Nearly flips mid-air. Slams down and tumbles over a guardrail. And somehow, the driver walks away unscathed.
It all happened at World Wide Technology Raceway last weekend – all captured in a shocking video that's quickly gone viral.
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According to a WWT Raceway spokesperson, drag racer Jason Hoard survived the frightening crash during a high-speed test run on May 31 in preparation for the VP Racing Fuels Heads-Up Shootout Series.
Extreme 660 Drag Racing, a media outlet that specializes in US drag racing coverage, captured the video and described it simply as 'the worst wreck we've ever filmed.'
In the video, as Hoard's white Corvette near tops speed alongside another driver, it suddenly launches off the ground, takes flight and nearly flips mid-air before slamming down hard on its rear end. The impact sent the Corvette tumbling over a guardrail into a grassy area with smoke billowing from the car and debris flying across the racetrack.
'Everything was fine absolutely until the second that it wasn't,' recalled Hoard in a YouTube interview on The Wes Buck Show via Drag Illustrated on June 4. 'I was fine, then it literally felt like the car was going backwards.'
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Hoard narrowly missed crashing on top of another drag-racing test-run vehicle to his left. 'I very could have easily landed on his car,' he added.
Fortunately, Hoard said he only ended up with some bruising and minor symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, ultimately avoiding life-threatening injuries.
Since the crash, WWT Raceway staff and the the National Hot Rod Association have launched a thorough investigation of the car and safety equipment before what remains of the car is returned to Hoard. The investigation aims to provide the NHRA with additional information for the continued development of racecar safety.
A WWT Raceway spokesperson tells FOX 2 that temperature and air conditions were optimal for racing and that, based on initial findings, no other environmental circumstances or raceway conditions played a factor.
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As for protocols when responding to such crashes, WWT Raceway released this statement:
'As an NHRA sanctioned racetrack, WWT Raceway and our participants follow the guidelines established by the NHRA rulebook and Operational Guidelines. Each WWT Raceway event features fully equipped safety response trucks operated by Emergency Staff who have been trained by NHRA, NASCAR, INDYCAR and SCCA and the trucks feature the latest in life saving emergency response equipment.
'In addition, each WWT Raceway drag racing event features an ALS (Advance Life Support) Ambulance Unit staffed by paramedics specially trained in responding to racing crashes. The WWT Raceway Safety teams were rolling to the crash site while Jason was still rolling and were at the scene of the crash less than 30 seconds after it occurred.'
The spokesperson added that Hoard's car was 'extremely well-built' and all of its safety functions performed properly during the crash.
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As the car went airborne, Hoard said he tucked into his seat. He remembered the impact of the left rear hitting the ground, but not much else from the collision. Crews estimated he was unconscious for about five minutes after the car rolled over. Hoard credits his team for their fast response to the crash and prior evaluations of the car.
Hoard added om the experience, 'I have had the front-end come up before on other cars. I pride myself on my reaction times and ability to get out of things if they feel like they are getting too far. This one didn't show any signs of that.'
'I don't think there's anything I would have done differently, unfortunately.'
Hoard's expected return date to drag racing remains to be determined. He is from St. Charles, Missouri and has been involved in auto racing for at least 10 years, according to professional profile pages.
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